Зов Ктулху
The Tale of Inspector Legrasse
Forfiveminutestheresultantdinandchaoswerebeyonddescription.Wildblowswerestruck,shotswerefired,andescapesweremade;butintheendLegrassewasabletocountsomeforty-sevensullenprisoners,whomheforcedtodressinhasteandfallintolinebetweentworowsofpolicemen. Fiveoftheworshipperslaydead,andtwoseverelywoundedoneswerecarriedawayonimprovisedstretchersbytheirfellow-prisoners. Theimageonthemonolith,ofcourse,wascarefullyremovedandcarriedbackbyLegrasse.
Examinedatheadquartersafteratripofintensestrainandweariness,theprisonersallprovedtobemenofaverylow,mixed-blooded,andmentallyaberranttype. Mostwereseamen,andasprinklingofNegroesandmulattoes,largelyWestIndiansorBravaPortuguesefromtheCapeVerdeIslands,gaveacolouringofvoodooismtotheheterogeneouscult. Butbeforemanyquestionswereasked,itbecamemanifestthatsomethingfardeeperandolderthanNegrofetichismwasinvolved. Degradedandignorantastheywere,thecreaturesheldwithsurprisingconsistencytothecentralideaoftheirloathsomefaith.
Theyworshipped,sotheysaid,theGreatOldOneswholivedagesbeforetherewereanymen,andwhocametotheyoungworldoutofthesky. ThoseOldOnesweregonenow,insidetheearthandunderthesea;buttheirdeadbodieshadtoldtheirsecretsindreamstothefirstmen,whoformedacultwhichhadneverdied. Thiswasthatcult,andtheprisonerssaidithadalwaysexistedandalwayswouldexist,hiddenindistantwastesanddarkplacesallovertheworlduntilthetimewhenthegreatpriestCthulhu,fromhisdarkhouseinthemightycityofR’lyehunderthewaters,shouldriseandbringtheearthagainbeneathhissway.
